inconvenience
Americannoun
-
inconveniences
plural
-
the quality or state of being inconvenient.
-
an inconvenient circumstance or thing; something that causes discomfort, trouble, etc.
verb (used with object)
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inconveniences,
present (3rd person singular)
-
inconvenienced,
past participle, past
-
inconveniencing
present participle
noun
-
the state or quality of being inconvenient
-
something inconvenient; a hindrance, trouble, or difficulty
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
inconveniencesimple
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inconveniencessimple
-
have inconveniencedperfect
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has inconveniencedperfect
-
am inconveniencingprogressive
-
are inconveniencingprogressive
-
is inconveniencingprogressive
-
have been inconveniencingperfect progressive
-
has been inconveniencingperfect progressive
Past
-
inconveniencedsimple
-
had inconveniencedperfect
-
was inconveniencingprogressive
-
were inconveniencingprogressive
-
had been inconveniencingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of inconvenience
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Late Latin word inconvenientia. See in- 3, convenience
Explanation
An inconvenience is an annoying occurrence that makes you go out of your way, like the inconvenience of a detour that takes you off your usual route, or the inconvenience of the door bell ringing just as you are about to take a dish out of the oven. The noun inconvenience, pronounced "in-cun-VEE-nyent," comes from the Latin word inconvenientia, from in-, meaning “not,” and convenient-, meaning “agreeing, fitting.” That meaning still holds true for inconvenience: something that doesn’t fit easily into your life, though it doesn't cause suffering, either. Use it to describe small irritations, like the inconvenience of an airport delay.
Vocabulary lists containing inconvenience
The Giver
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 26–31
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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In this environment, hunger can represent a giant inconvenience.
From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026
While the inconvenience and brutality has certainly kept us angry and alert, there’s little proof it has made us safer.
From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026
As the saying goes, the cost of community is inconvenience.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
"We are trying to do the best we can to not inconvenience people with what can be described as one hell of an odour."
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
Even the minor encumbrance of a bandage was a serious inconvenience.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
With an EV, we no longer have to deal with many legacy irritants and inconveniences.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026
Meanwhile, wide adoption has brought new inconveniences, as even power users feel awkward talking to their laptops.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 29, 2026
Small inconveniences you overlook on vacation can become major issues when they are part of your daily life.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 29, 2025
"In this study, we're talking about daily stressors, the minor inconveniences that occur throughout the day, but there's also chronic stress where people are continually impacted by stressors again and again," Witzel said.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2025
For between him and his ship were more than a few inconveniences.
From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman
However, some ways of being inconvenienced are more draining than others.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 19, 2026
But the crowds and snarled traffic have inconvenienced some including Eric Stein, a Park City resident, who said he can’t wait for the festival to leave town.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 31, 2026
A spokesperson said: "It is inevitable, with such a large number of vehicles affected, that customers will be inconvenienced in the short term."
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2025
“I think that when people are confronted with nature in the city people are both fascinated by it and sometimes inconvenienced by it,” says seabird ecologist Louise Blight.
From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2024
“You have considerably inconvenienced us and caused us a great deal of expense we cannot well afford.”
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
She later apologized to her security detail, secretaries and driver for inconveniencing them by starting at such an early hour.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 24, 2025
Aside from inconveniencing other moviegoers as they shuffle past, stepping on toes and grabbing seatbacks after the lights have gone down, they’re missing every single trailer for an upcoming attraction.
From Salon ● May 22, 2025
"They're inconveniencing the majority for the sake of the few that actually come that way," adds Mr Thomas.
From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2025
The Chicano movement was in full force and inconveniencing the status quo.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 2023
“I hope I won’t be inconveniencing you if I only pay the interest this term?”
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
